I just wanted to say how much I love all of your beautiful projects you have made. I would love to have a machine that would do larger designs. I have a Brothers SE 400 that will do a 4x4 and I was lucky to get this machine. No hope in getting a new one.

Thanks cuties I love my machine I have just would also love to do a large size also.

You and I are in the same boat. I often wish I had a larger hoop and then I think - what would I do with a large design? I have a second hand Bernina machine and I love it to bits. It never lets me down. Oh yes, I would love a new one with all the bells and whistles - but that will not happen. Please post some of your projects. Sarah.

1 comment

by rw9340 21 Oct 2011

I will post some projects when I complete them I am working on 2 quilt for step granddaughters. It will take me a while to complete them I work 10 hours a day 6 days a week at low wages on the second shift so I don't get off work until 2 am. I don't have a lot of time but I love to get on cuties and look around.

I have larger hoops, but find myself rarely ever using anything larger than 4x4. It is the most popular design size, and anything bigger is usually too big for the project I'm working on.
I have to agree that the projects that have been gifted to us by some very talented and generous digitizers have been absolutely fabulous!!!

The majority of designs out there are 4x4 or smaller. And you use so much less stablizer. If you find larger designs you like save them - you never know what the future brings. Hugs, Laura*

You can have lots of fun with the machine you have - don't look at it as limited - just find designs that you enjoy for the hoop size that you have and go to town and have some fun.

I have the same machine and yes I to wished I had a larger hoop, but alas that wont be happening anytime soon. But I have learned to reduce some of the designs, and my next task will be multi hooping, so I'm happy! Don't be fooled by getting a larger hoop for your machine, it can only read a 4x4 design even thou you can buy a larger hoop it wont read a larger file, just so you know. Enjoy the machine it great!

Don't despair .... splitting designs is the answer. Google 'splitting machine embroidery designs' and get some help and ideas from the answers there. I guess you need the editing software, though. I've had a lot of help from Embroidery Library and Secrets of Embroidery.

Katulle, in DBC, has offered a beautiful bird design already split for us to try. I haven't done it yet.

There is a compromise, too, by embroidering 4x4 designs, appropriately and carefully placed on larger pieces of fabric to make up your own larger designs (draw up a complete design picture on paper first). Beating the odds is heartwarming and a lot of fun. If your SE400 is working well, then make it work outside the square and create miracles for you.
AlmaG.

That was one of the best moves I made though-getting a bigger hoop-it opened up more possibilities for me-I love it. Maybe some day huh?

Had a Brother 18oD made beautiful large designs using Embird split tool, I have some split designs from K.O. designs, they are called Break a Limit and they come out perfect. Some time ago I took a part time job just to save enough money for my PC 6500 5x7 and now i am thinking to do a part time job just to buy a larger hoop I am not too sure about it, but you could do beautiful projects as large as you want using split designs.

There are lots of 4x4 designs and so many beautiful products made with the, you'll be able to create numerous outstanding projects. I can sew big designs, but the hoop most often used is still the 4x4. Just now I'm designing for the bigger ones only because I can use them and hardly do. Go figure!
So enjoy what you have and show us some of your beautiful items.

Yes there are some lovely designs for the bigger hoop, but do not despair cause most designs come in 4x4 and we all have more than we need. I just wish I had more time to learn to combine patterns and to rehoop correctly in order to do continuous patterns. Just make the best of your treasure. *4U